Coin collecting apparatus



Jan. 22, 1963 E. D. LEWIS 06in COLLECTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J INVENTOR. ffl/VAED 0. 15% BY Arne/vars.

Jan. 22, 1963 E. D. LEWIS com COLLECTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 28, 1961 INV ENT OR. 0. ZEW/S A rrb en/Ys I J I'm A20 BY This invention relates to coin collecting apparatus and has particular applicability to a device for collecting coins from parking meters or similar coin actuated vending appliances.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of an improved apparatus for collecting coins from parking meters or the like by means of which such coins are rendered inaccessible to the operator, the device thus precluding the possibility of any petty theft or piltering.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device which is adapted to be applied to the outlet of a parking meter which includes a self-contained key, the key being actuable to open the outlet to the coin receptacle of the parking meter and then direct the coins to a sealed receptacle through a tubular enclosure without the exposure of the coins at any time during the transportation thereof from the meter to the collection receptacle.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

A still further object resides in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of one form of collecting apparatus shown in association with the coin receptacle of a parking meter, certain concealed portions of the mechanism being indicated in dotted lines.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the opposite side of the device.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the device, shown in a different position of adjustment by dotted lines, the coin receptacle of the parking meter being disclosed in section.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FlGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 4 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, there is disclosed at 10 a sleeve having an inclined bottom partition 11 therein which extends to a coin discharge opening 12. The sleeve 11 has mounted on its upper extremity a parking meter, a portion of which is indicated in dotted lines at 13 or similar device for the collection of coins and rests on a supporting post 14, which is suitably secured in the pavement of the ground in a conventional manner.

The sleeve 10 includes an opening 15 into which extends a key actuated lock 17 including a locking bolt 18, which engages in a groove 19 normally holding an outer sleeve 20 in fixed relation relative to the sleeve 10; the sleeve 2% is also provided with an opening 21, which is normally out of registry with the opening 12 so as effectively to seal the coin receptacle. When the outer sleeve 20 is rotated, in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter, to register the openings 12 and 21, the inclined bottom 11 will guide the coins outwardly of the receptacle.

3,074,626 Patented Jan. 2l 2, 1963 ice Sleeve 20 is provided with oppositely disposed guide ribs 23 and 24 through the latter of which extends the lock 17 The arrangement is thus such that the sleeve 20 cannot be rotated except by the insertion of a suitable key in lock 17.

The individual who collects from the parking meters 1s provided with a special coin receiving receptacle, as for example, the locked receptacle disclosed in the patent to L. B. McClung, No. 2,992,771, dated July 18, 1961, to which is connected a flexible reinforced tubular member 25 which is fixedly connected as by means of rivets 26 or the like to a chute portion 27 of a collecting hood 28, a locking sleeve or collar 29 surrounding the juncture of the conduit 25 and portion 27.

The hood 28 is provided with a pair of ears or pro ections 30 and 31, each of which has an internal groove or channel 32 and 33, respectively, which grooves are secured a circular key 39 which actuates the lock barrel- 17 and consequently the locking bolt 18. The key is fully contained within the hood, and cannot be employed to unlock the lock 17 unless the hood is in the above-described position engaging the guide ribs 23 and 24. A knob 40 is carried by the outer end of stem 38, the knob 40 being generally circular but including an indicating point 41, which when in vertical position indicates alignment of the key 3 7 with the lock 17 As indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 3, inward pressure on the knob 40 causes the key 37 to engage the lock 17, and the knob 40 may then be rotated substantially which releases the lock bolt 18 from its associated groove 19. Upon release of the lock bolt the sleeve 20 may then be rotated approximately to the position disclosed in dotted lines in FIG. 3, at which time the openings 12 and 21 are in aligned relation and the coins in the coin sleeve 10 are guided by the inclined bottom 11 into the discharge chute 27, and thence through the tube or conduit 25 to a suitable receptacle. The collection hood 28 may not be removed from its engaged position with the sleeve 20 when the openings 12 and 21 are in registry due to the fact that the key 37 may not be removed from the lock 17 when in an unlocked position.

It is to be noted that the hood has an arcuate top opening 28a, as best shown in FIG. 3, which closely encircles the sleeve 20 so as to render the removal of any coins falling from the receptacle 10 substantially impossible.

When the device is rerotated from the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3 to its full line position, the knob 40 may be rerotated to lock the locking bolt 18 by reengagement with the groove 19, and the hood may then he slid upwardly along the aligned guides 23 and 24 and removed from the sleeve.

It will thus be seen that there is herein provided a coin collecting apparatus for use with parking meters or the like which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment here-inbefore shown and described, it is understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a tubular coin receiving receptacle having an opening therein adapted to be positioned to receive coins from a coin actuated device, an outer sleeve surrounding said receptacle and rotatable thereabout, an opening in said sleeve which when aligned with said opening in said receptacle will release coins from said recepsecuring said sleeve in nonrotata-ble relation to said re" ceptacle with said openings out of registry, a collecting hood, means for securing said hood to said sleeve, a coin tube secured to said hood and adapted to extend to a movable sealed coin receiving device, a key carried in-teriorly of said hood, an operating knob exteriorly of said hood, a shaft connecting said key and said knob, said shaft being linearly movable to permit insertion of said key in said lock and rotatable to actuate said lock to release said locking bolt whereby said sleeve may rotate to a position aligning said openings, and means precluding removal of said hood from said sleeve While said openings are aligned.

2. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a tubular coin receiving receptacle having an opening therein adapted to be positioned to receive coins from a coin actuated device, aniouter sleeve surrounding said receptacle and rotatable thereabout, an opening in said sleeve which when aligned With-said opening in said receptacle will release coins from said receptacle, a lock barrel having a key opening and a lock bolt securing said sleeve in nonrotatable relationito said receptacle with said openings out of registry, a collecting hood, means for securing said hood to said sleeve, a coin tube secured to said hood and adapted to extend to a movable sealed coin re ceiving device, a key carried interiorly of said hood, an

operating knob exteriorly of said hood, a shaft connecting said key and said knob, said shaft being linearly movable to permit insertion of saidkey in said lock and rotatable to actuate said lock to release said locking bolt whereby said sleeve may rotate to a position aligning said openings, means precluding removal of said hood from said sleeve While said openings are aligned, said last-mentioned means comprising a fixed extension on said sleeve, guide ribs on said sleeve and said extension, said ribs being aligned only when said openings are out of registry, ears on said head having grooves therein engageable With said guides, said tube being moved linearly over said guide ribs to align said key with said key opening, and rotation of said sleeve clisaligningthe guide ribs of said sleeve with the ribs of said extension.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,430,384 Broussard Nov. 4, 1947 2,620,971 Hale Dec. 9, 1952 2,869,777 Share Jan. 20, 1959 2,869,778 Share Jan. 20, 1959 

1. A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A TUBULAR COIN RECEIVING RECEPTACLE HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED TO RECEIVE COINS FROM A COIN ACTUATED DEVICE, AN OUTER SLEEVE SURROUNDING SAID RECEPTACLE AND ROTATABLE THEREABOUT, AN OPENING IN SAID SLEEVE WHICH WHEN ALIGNED WITH SAID OPENING IN SAID RECEPTACLE WILL RELEASE COINS FROM SAID RECEPTACLE, A LOCK BARREL HAVING A KEY OPENING AND A LOCK BOLT SECURING SAID SLEEVE IN NONROTATABLE RELATION TO SAID RECEPTACLE WITH SAID OPENINGS OUT OF REGISTRY, A COLLECTING HOOD, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID HOOD TO SAID SLEEVE, A COIN TUBE SECURED TO SAID HOOD AND ADAPTED TO EXTEND TO A MOVABLE SEALED COIN RECEIVING DEVICE, A KEY CARRIED INTERIORLY OF SAID HOOD, AN OPERATING KNOB EXTERIORLY OF SAID HOOD, A SHAFT CONNECTING SAID KEY AND SAID KNOB, SAID SHAFT BEING LINEARLY MOVABLE TO PERMIT INSERTION OF SAID KEY IN SAID LOCK AND ROTATABLE TO ACTUATE SAID LOCK TO RELEASE SAID LOCKING BOLT WHEREBY SAID SLEEVE MAY ROTATE TO A POSITION ALIGNING SAID OPENINGS, AND MEANS PRECLUDING REMOVAL OF SAID HOOD FROM SAID SLEEVE WHILE SAID OPENINGS ARE ALIGNED. 